ABSTRACT
True school choice means not just the freedom to choose non-state schools, but the freedom to do so without financial penalty. In 1973, Australia, under the leadership of a liberal-leaning Labour government, adopted choice in education by establishing a system of financial support for the nation's private schools. The educational choice policy established in 1973 provides aid for recurrent or per-pupil costs. Families in Denmark have long enjoyed their country's well-established educational choice program. The Danish policy requires that free schools charge some tuition fees, albeit very low fees, in order to ensure that parents have a financial stake in-and thus a high degree of commitment to-the school they choose for their children. Private schools in the Netherlands are available to all regardless of income because public and private schools are financed "on a completely equal basis". The supply of religious schools, representing a variety of denominations, has increased greatly under Sweden's educational choice grant program.
